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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Associated Press:
The gunman in the mass shootings at the Washington Navy Yard, Aaron
Alexis, had a history of violent outbursts, was at least twice accused
of firing guns in anger and was in the early stages of treatment for
serious mental problems, according to court records and U.S. law
enforcement officials.

But Alexis apparently managed to exploit seams in the nation’s
patchwork of complicated gun laws designed to keep weapons out of the
hands of dangerous people. He was able to buy a shotgun in Virginia with
out-of-state identification, even though that would have prevented him
from buying a handgun.

It is illegal for gun dealers to sell handguns to such out-of-state
buyers, but the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act, passed by Congress in
1986, opened up interstate sales for shotguns and rifles. Virginia gun
laws require only that an out-of-state buyer show valid identification,
pass a background check and otherwise abide by state laws in order to
buy a shotgun in the state. Alexis was never prosecuted for the two
misdemeanors involving guns.

Alexis bought the shotgun at Sharpshooters Small Arms Range in
Lorton, Va. on Saturday, according to a statement from the attorney for
the gun range.